Outlet box



Sept. 23, 1924. 1,5092% 5. R. FRALICK OUTLET BOX Filed Nov. 24. 1920 Emem Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFlQ,

SYLES a. FRALICK, or cmoaeo, ILL moIs.

OUTLE'If Box.

Application filed November 24, 1920. Serial No. 426,187.

' ful Improvements in Outlet Boxes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements vin outlet-boxes, and more particularly to switch-box or outlet-box positioning ears.

An object of my-invention is to provide an improved and simple construction of outletbox positioning ear, and means for attachment thereof to the outlet-box so constructed that the ears may be attached to thebox in either of two selected positions with mini mum time requirement and maximum ease, and without the use of screws or extraneous attaching parts. In the drawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention, Fig. l is a section of a switch-box with the connecting ears in one position; Fig; 2 is a similar view with the connecting ears reversed; Fig. 3 is a perspective fragment of the 'box and ears in one position; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the ear applied in another poiition'; Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of i 1. 'Ihe switch-box 10 illustrated is of a well known design, having flat side walls and a rectan lar mouth. Its'construction, in the form s own, may be that usual in suchdevices except that its walls to which ears are to be applied have pairs of parallel, spaced slots 11, 11 formed therein, preferably at right angles-to the mouth-margins. Each ear 12 is a sheet-metal member having a flange part 13 to parallel the mouth-edges, a

' base part 14 at right angles thereto to lie flat onthe boxsides, and lugs 15 bent down at right angles to the base and preferably disposed in parallel planes at right angles to .the plane of the flange part and in to register with the slots 11. 11 of t e boxosition body. Specifically I prefer so to construct that the flange is a shallow U-shaped yoke suitably apertured for attaching screws, the base is composed of two separated feet forming continuations of the yoke legs and bent at right angles to the plane of the yoke or flange, while the lugs 15 are projections from the confronting edges of the feet, down-bent at right angles to the plane of the feet, and lying in parallel planes. These lugs are so located and their respective slots 11 are so positioned with respect to the edges of the box that, as shown in Figs. 2 and 1, the attaching ears may be inserted in one position to present the flange 13 practically in the plane of the mouth of the box, or the ears may be reversed and inserted to present the flange at a material distance back from the mouth of the box. The structure may be shipped to the user with the ears ,unattached, for his selective positioning of the latter, and to attach the ears, the user has but to insert the lugs 15 through the slots 11 and, with pliers or with hammer, to bend over the through-projecting extremities of the lugs as shown in Fig. 5, the sheet metal ears being soft enough (that is, of mildenough steel)ntostand the bending.

I claim:

The combination of an open-sided box member having parallel'slots at right angles to an edge its open side, and a ductile sheet metal attaching member having an ear arranged to stand at a right angle to the slotted box-side and opposite base portions parallel with such side and fastening lugs on said base portions outside the plane of said ear and at right angles thereto, whereby the fastening lugs of said attaching member may be positioned in said slots of the box side in either one of two opposite positions and bent flat against the box side to secure such attaching member thereto.

SYLES R. FRALICK. 

